Honey Garlic Salmon Fillets (Printable)

Succulent salmon with sticky honey garlic glaze, ready in 25 minutes

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin-on or skinless
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tablespoons honey
04 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
05 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 tablespoon water

→ For Cooking

08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter

→ For Serving (optional)

09 - Steamed rice
10 - Steamed or sautéed seasonal vegetables
11 - Sliced green onions
12 - Sesame seeds

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and water until well combined. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil or butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
04 - Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy.
05 - Carefully flip the fillets and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the flesh is lightly browned.
06 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour the honey garlic sauce around and over the salmon fillets.
07 - Spoon the simmering sauce over the fillets continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the fish in a glossy glaze.
08 - Remove from heat once the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately with steamed rice and vegetables, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something that simmered for hours
  • Even people who swear they dont like fish ask for seconds
  • One pan means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the pan or the salmon will steam instead of getting that beautiful sear
  • The sauce will continue thickening for about a minute after you remove it from heat
  • Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Pat the salmon absolutely dry before seasoning, water prevents proper browning
  • If your sauce thickens too much, add a teaspoon of warm water to loosen it
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